How does actual boot camp compare to the recruitment videos?

Ian Crawford — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 00:27:53 -0500

My father and grandfather both served in the military. They always enjoy telling stories about their experiences at boot camp, things have obviously changed since their time in the service, but some recent veterans claim that recruiting videos for the Navy and Army are softened up to comfort families of the recruit. So I ask how actual boot camp compared to the the recruitment videos?

Response by SFC George Smith made Feb 4 at 2017 12:31 AM

SFC George Smith — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 00:31:15 -0500

they are More sanitized than they are Softened ... but the Families should Know they you anot going to Cub scout summer camp... and the older families have a good idea they you are going to get Your 4th POC handed to you... that or they are Blithering Idiots...

Response by SN Greg Wright made Feb 4 at 2017 12:44 AM

SN Greg Wright — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 00:44:41 -0500

Boot camp will wake you the fuck up. It will destroy your entitlement. (I'm speaking to the collective you, not YOU you). It will teach you to be a part of a team, to consider things bigger than yourself. It will make you realize that you have the potential to be more than you think you can be. That said, it's not torture. Hard? Maybe. Any reasonable high school athlete is going to be fine for the physical stuff. Then it's simply a matter of your mental strength and fortitude, and attention to detail. Millions have gone through it and come out unscathed. You can, too, if you want it.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2017 3:27 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 03:27:18 -0500

Ian Crawford I went through Boot Camp in 1968. If you are in good physical condition and have a good attitude, you will be fine. Is it a piece of cake? No, but things that are hard earned will be appreciated more. Forget the recruiting videos. You really want a hard challenging Boot Camp to prepare you for the years to come. Best wishes on your decision.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Feb 4 at 2017 4:42 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 04:42:14 -0500

How is softening and making a civilian approach going to help You prepare for Military service ? That defeats the whole purpose of boot camp and make You part of a team, prepare You the attitude to survive and thrive in a Military or war setting. Coming in as a wimp and staying a wimp is not the object of boot camp, the idea is to prepare You to face the real world. The real world is not always a nice place. The idea should not be to comfort the families but prepare You to some degree what is ahead of You. This is only the beginning of Your Training, You will still have plenty to learn after boot camp.

Response by 1SG Al Brown made Feb 4 at 2017 7:39 AM

1SG Al Brown — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 07:39:39 -0500

Films are films. Reception and Integration is the real showtime. Show up mentally prepared to vigorously train and be physically and mentally pushed for 8 to 12 weeks. You'll figure out who you are in a day or two.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2017 7:51 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 07:51:51 -0500

It happens every generation. My father told me how soft it was when I went through, I hear older troops tell the younger ones the same thing. It's like the story about the guy who tried to kill himself by throwing a buffer out the window with the cord tied around his neck...Or, the story about the stress card, everyone who went had a unit just down the road that got to use it, even if it only actually was tried once with one company.

Every soldier that is in, did what they had to, to get in. That's what matters.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Feb 4 at 2017 8:28 AM

MSgt George Cater — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 08:28:57 -0500

Both PISC & MCRD San Diego are just as tough as they need to be. If any Marine Recruiting ads imply otherwise, I've never seen them. Everyone joining expects it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2017 9:42 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 09:42:13 -0500

Recruitment videos are ALWAYS softened up to get you to feel more relaxed. They show you all the fun stuff you will be doing. To put it this way.....when a movie gets shown on regular television.......like a horror movie.......there is always a disclaimer that the movie is edited for time and content. They are cutting out the bad stuff. Trust me, while Basic Training may be getting easier...........having cell phones still boggles my brain............it still is no cake walk in the sunshine.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2017 11:42 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 11:42:10 -0500

I thought basic was pretty easy compared to AIT, both physically and mentally. Remember this, Ian Crawford Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2017 8:17 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 20:17:22 -0500

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62tnJtLBQzQ

Well at one point Marines went through a Saw/Resident Evil obstacle course and fought giant lava monsters, so you tell me lol

THE BEST - US Marines TV Recruitment Spot - Ever Produced

Contest of Honor - A Sci-Fi TV commercial demostrating the obstacles and hardships of becoming a US Marine. . Presented By: http://www.EnforcementApparel.com .

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Feb 6 at 2017 9:44 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 09:44:42 -0500

Boot Camps videos like Ears Open, Eyeballs Click or Black Friday: Dark Dawn are fairly accurate in their portrayal of actual boot camps. What they aren't showing you of course is what happens when the cameras are off.

Boot camp is a hell of an experience. It's very life changing. No amount of watching Full Metal Jacket will prepare you for the reality when it's literally in your face every minute you are there.

If you are thinking of joining, then I say go for it. Yes it is going to suck and you will hate every moment you are there, but you'll back on it with fond memories much like your family does.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2017 9:52 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 21:52:12 -0500

Everyone's experiences varies. I look back at my boot camp like it was soft but when I was going through it, it seemed a lot harder. The worst part for me was, as expected, all mental. I had to get used to being away from home, and changing to accommodate the goals of the tasks set before me. Like you though, I've heard all the stories.

Response by Cpl Imre Demech made Dec 3 at 2017 7:18 PM

Cpl Imre Demech — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 19:18:24 -0500

worse in real life.